Toronto Blue Jays: Players who have impressed in spring training
Aaron Sanchez
There is only so far a team can go without their ace pitcher and that was evident with the Blue Jays and Sanchez last season. A nagging blister issue derailed his season and now the 25-year-old is focused on getting back to his dominant form from 2016.
He told Sportsnet‘s Shi Davidi that he feels free on the mound with no limitations in his middle finger. Seeing him inducing batters to ground ballss has been a welcome sight for Blue Jays’ fans after serious concern about the impact blisters would have on Sanchez.
Most recently he went six innings against the Atlanta Braves allowing only two hits, striking out four and getting 13 ground ball outs. In four starts, Sanchez has a 2-2 record, a 3.05 ERA, 16 strikeouts and only two walks.
If Sanchez can get to the form that saw him win 15 games and post an ERA of 3.00 through 192 innings in 2016. One thing he told Davidi is that he wants to refine his change-up and curveball before the season starts but is on track with where he wants to be.
No player on the Blue Jays is more eager for the season to start than Sanchez especially with the tough year he had. He is the key to pushing the team into postseason contention and if he is capable of pitching close to what he did in 2016 then it is possible.